grocery

noun

gro·​cery ˈgrōs-rē 

ˈgrō-sə-;

ˈgrōsh-rē 

plural groceries

1

groceries plural : the food and supplies sold by a grocer

—usually singular in British usage

2

: a grocer's store

Examples of grocery in a Sentence

She stopped to pick up some groceries for supper.

Recent Examples on the Web

Stephanie Anderson, the mother of two SPPS students, helped set up a food pantry at her son’s school, where kids can fill their backpacks with groceries on their way home. —Nick Woltman, Twin Cities, 22 Feb. 2026

The weekly grocery bill has been around $500 with both kids living at home, and the family usually orders delivery twice a week, rotating between Chinese and Indian food, which typically costs $70, including leftovers. —Eliza Shapiro, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026

Consumer Reports released data on the most and least affordable grocery chains. —Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026

The checkout rules at ALDI require shoppers to bag their own groceries. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grocerye, grosery "merchandise sold by wholesalers, the Grocers' Company of London," borrowed from Anglo-French grocerie, groserie, from groser "wholesale dealer in preserved foods, spices, wine, etc." + -ie -y entry 2 — more at grocer

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grocery

• do (one's) grocery shopping
• go grocery shopping
• grocery bag
• grocery cart
• grocery list
• grocery store

Video

How Do You Pronounce 'Groceries'?

Is there one standard way?

Kids Definition

grocery

noun

gro·​cery ˈgrōs-(ə-)rē 

plural groceries

1

plural : food sold by a grocer

went out to buy the groceries

2

: a grocer's store